'Bachelor' star Melissa Rycroft speaks out after arrest for second DWI - USA Today
Melissa Rycroft Strickland is speaking out after being arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, her second arrest for such an offense.
"The Bachelor" and "Dancing with the Stars" alum spoke out in an Instagram post on Tuesday, Nov. 3, sharing the shame and embarrassment she feels and acknowledging the effect her arrest has had on her loved ones. She also seemed to attribute her DWI arrest to her declining mental health.
"I want to share something personal, and to be honest, I am very ashamed to share it, but I can't hide it anymore. I've been struggling with my mental health for quite some time now. It has completely overwhelmed me," Rycroft Strickland, 43, wrote.
She admitted that she had hid her mental health struggles from her family by "putting on a smile," but now, she said, she's pursuing professional help.
"No excuses at all, but I'm finally admitting that I need help," she said. "I've fought this for a long time on my own, and it's time to admit that I can't do it anymore."
Rycroft Strickland was arrested in Southlake, Texas, on Sunday, Nov. 1, after allegedly crashing into an ambulance stopped at a stop sign before fleeing the scene, according to a news release from the Southlake Police Department. No injuries were reported, and officers located Rycroft Strickland, 43, shortly after.
She was charged with driving while intoxicated, second offense, accident involving damage of more than $200, and driving with an invalid license.
Rycroft Strickland was previously arrested by Southlake police in September 2025 on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, according to People and TMZ.
In her statement, Rycroft Strickland said, "The shame is still very much there, but I'm ready to feel like myself again, for me and for my family.
"They have stood by me through all of this, and they deserve honesty. They deserve me at my best," she added. "Please have some grace with me, if you have it in your heart, as I focus on trying to get healthy, and please respect my family's privacy as they navigate this with me, too."
Rycroft appeared in Season 13 of "The Bachelor," where she received Jason Mesnick's last rose before he realized he wanted to propose to runner-up Molly Malaney instead. Molly and Jason Mesnick are now married, with two children, while Rycroft married insurance broker Tye Strickland.
Later that year, Rycroft appeared in Season 9 of "Dancing with the Stars" in 2009 and returned in 2012 for the series' first all-star season, where she placed first with partner Tony Dovolani.
